Hillary Clinton backs marriage equality

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has declared her support for marriage equality.

Clinton announced her position in a video for the Human Rights Campaign in what many believe to be a sign she is seriously considering a run for the US presidency in 2016.

“LGBT Americans are our colleagues, our teachers, our soldiers, our friends, our loved ones. They are full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes marriage,” Clinton said in the video.

In her 2008 run for office, Clinton opposed same-sex marriage but endorsed civil unions for same-sex couples. She acknowledged that her position had evolved due to personal and professional experiences.

Her husband, former US President Bill Clinton, signed the controversial Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law in 1996. DOMA denies federal benefits to married same-sex couples in the US and is currently subject to a Supreme Court challenge.

He recently admitted he believed DOMA to be “discriminatory” and incompatible with the US constitution. He urged the Supreme Court to overturn the law.